Method and apparatus for purifying exhaust gases

ABSTRACT

Apparatus and method for removing impurities and noxious materials from exhaust gases generated by the combustion of fuels in which the gases are passed through a chamber for extraction of the impurities and noxious materials by an absorber liquid.

Unite T01 States Patent Soria et a1.

[ 1 Mar. 14, 1972 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR! PURIFYING EXHAUST GASESInventors: Alberto Olague Soria, Calle Uruguay 37 Desp. 313; AvelinoMartinez Sanchez, Avenue Emerson #215. both of Mexico City, MexicoFiled: Mar. 9, 1970 Appl. No.: 17,717

Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 15, 1969 Mexico ..110404 Apr. 15,1969 Mexico ....110405 Apr. 15, 1969 Mexico ..110406 Int. Cl ..B0ld47/02 Field of Searc ..55/83, 84, 86, 95, 230-232,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATIENTS FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 15,675 12/1934 Australia ..55/247 Primary Examiner-Char1esN. Hart Attorney-Pierce, Scheffler & Parker [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus andmethod for removing impurities and noxious materials from exhaust gasesgenerated by the combustion of fuels in which the gases are passedthrough a chamber for extraction of the impurities and noxious materialsby an absorber liquid.

h 7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAR 14 I972 3, 6A8 A35 sum 1 [1F 2METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING EXHAUST GASES Whenever combustiblefuels are burned, the products of combustion or exhaust gases containcomponents which are harmful to mankind. These harmful components may begases or vapors of a poisonous character, that is poisonous to mankindor then may be finely divided solids, such as soot, fly ash and the likewhich in the air forms smoke and when water vapor such as fog is presentform smog.

The presence of poisonous gases or vapors and solid particles in exhaustgases creates major problems as to the purity of the air in manycommunities and particularly in highly industrialized areas where greatquantities of exhaust gases from the combustion of various types of fuelis encountered.

The apparatus of the present invention is for the purification ofexhaust gases so that the poisonous gases and vapors present as well asundesirable solid particles are removed from the exhaust gases and areretained in the apparatus while the purified gases may be expelledtherefrom.

According to the present invention the apparatus may be connecteddirectly to the exhaust pipe of an industrial plant or it may be locatedat a central point so as to receive the exhaust gases from a pluralityof sources through pipes or other connections thereto.

The gases which are treated in the apparatus and by the method of thepresent invention are subject to a turbulent mixing action with anabsorber liquid. The absorber liquid may act as a chemical absorbent ofvarious noxious gases and/or may act as a mechanical entrainer for solidparticles therein, such as soot, fly ash and the like. In any particularinstallation, the nature of the impurities to be removed are consideredand the absorber liquid is selected from those materials which willeffectively absorb and/or entrain the impurities present. For examplewhen soot or fly ash or the like is to be removed, the absorber liquidmight well include an oily liquid, such as a mineral oil for entrainingsuch solid particles to effectively remove them from the exhaust gases.n the other hand, when noxious gases are to be removed the absorberliquid will contain a liquid such as, water, which will absorb bysolution or by chemical reaction those noxious gases which are to beremoved from the exhaust gases. Clearly, when both solid particles andnoxious gases such as carbon monoxide are present in the exhaust gasesthe absorber liquid may advantageously contain both an oily entrainingagent as well as an absorbent and even though the two liquids might beimmiscible in each other, this does not interfere with the operation ofthe present apparatus because of the turbulent mixing action in anagitation chamber where the exhaust gases are effectively scrubbed topurify them.

The invention will now be described by reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which similar reference numbers refer to similar parts andin which,

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross sectional view of an apparatus according tothe present invention and in which the method of the present inventionmay be carried out and FIG. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of amodification of the apparatus of the present invention.

In FIG. 1 apparatus is shown which comprises a chamber having an inlet11 provided with a nonreturn valve 12 for the admission of exhaust gasesfrom an antechamber 13 supplied by inlet duct 14 which is connected to asource of exhaust gases. The gases which enter chamber 10 cannot exitthrough inlet 11 because of nonreturn valve 12.

Within the chamber 10 there is provided a shaft 15, rotatably mounted inbearings 16,17 and 18 and driven by any suitable drive 19. Within thechamber 10 an impeller 20 is provided for moving the exhaust gasesdownwardly to a second chamber, or extraction chamber 21. As shown, theimpeller 21) includes a helical drive 22 disposed within a tubular guide23 and mounted on the rotatable shaft 15.

In the extraction chamber 21 there are provided mixing and agitationelements 24 mounted on the lower end of shaft 15 and rotatabletherewith. An absorber liquid may be introduced into chamber 21 throughinlet 25.

When shaft 15 is rotated, the agitation element 24 will cause theabsorber liquid to become agitated and actively intermixed with thegases being propelled downwardly thereinto by the impeller 20. Theviolent intermixing of the downwardly moving gases and the absorberliquid enables substantially all of the undesired components of the gasto be absorbed and/or entrained by the liquid. Those components whichare not absorbed or entrained pass through openings 26 in the wall 27 tobe withdrawn through pipe 28.

The gases which pass through the pipe 28 and nonreturn valve 29 may bewithdrawn at 30 or may be recycled in whole or in part through pipe 31to chamber 10 to be recycled through the apparatus.

When the absorber liquid is saturated with impurities it may bereplenished by withdrawing the spent liquid at 25 and introducing freshabsorber liquid to the chamber 21.

In the modification shown in FIG. 2 like elements have like referencenumerals. At the bottom of the apparatus below the chamber 21, a furthermixing chamber 32 with additional agitation elements 33 is provided. Theelements 33 are mounted for rotation on the shaft 15 and due to itsextension through chamber 32 additional bearings 34 are provided. Theelements 33 may be composed of an absorbent porous material which willtend to retain the absorber liquid containing the impurities. Theseelements 33 may be exchanged for fresh elements when the absorber liquidis changed as mentioned above.

As stated in connection with FIG. 1 the cleaned gases are passed intopipe 28 and may be withdrawn at 30, or in whole or in part recycled tothe top of the apparatus. In FIG. 2 this is accomplished by extendingpipe 31 to connect with the inlet 1 1 as shown, employing a nonreturnvalve 35 as shown.

With the present apparatus it is possible to purify exhaust gases fromany source easily and effectively due to the agitation and mixing thattakes place in the chamber 21, and, in FIG. 2, also in chamber 32.

The size of the apparatus depends on the quantity of gases to bepurified. Obviously when treating the gases from an industrial heatingplant, a larger apparatus will be employed than when treating theexhaust gases from a single internal combustion engine as found in anautomobile. In the latter case, of course the drive 19 for shaft 15 maybe connected directly to the automobile engine instead of employing aseparate motor.

Having now described our invention and a manner for carrying it out whatis claimed is:

1. Apparatus for removing unwanted components from exhaust gasescomprising an inlet chamber, means for introducing the exhaust gasesinto said inlet chamber, a purification chamber beneath and incommunication with said inlet chamber, means including a helicalrotating blade and a vertical tubular guide thereabout disposedvertically within said inlet chamber for impelling the gases downwardlyfrom said inlet chamber into said purification chamber, a liquid bath insaid purification chamber for absorbing and entraining the unwantedcomponents from the exhaust gases, means for agitating said liquid bathto cause violent intermixing of the gases with the liquid in saidpurification chamber to facilitate the absorption and entrainment of theunwanted components from the exhaust gases as the gases pass downwardlythrough said purification chamber and means for withdrawing gases fromsaid purification chamber after absorption and entrainment of unwantedcomponents.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for impelling thegases and the agitating means include a common rotatable shaft extendingfrom the inlet chamber to the purification chamber and further comprisesmeans for rotating said shaft.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said agitating meanscomprises stirring elements mounted on said shaft for rotationtherewith.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising means forrecycling at least a portion of the withdrawn gases to said inletchamber for additional treatment.

inlet chamber, passing said exhaust gases downwardly through a confinedzone within said inlet chamber to a purification chamber, agitating anabsorber liquid within said purification chamber and continuouslypassing the exhaust gases downwardly through said confined zone andthence through the agitated absorber liquid for violent intermixingtherewith and removing purified gases after intermixing with saidliquid, said absorber liquid being formed of at least one liquid formechanical entrainment of solid impurities and for absorption ofvaporous impurities.

I! k 1' l

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for impelling thegases and the agitating means include a common rotatable shaft extendingfrom the inlet chamber to the purification chamber and further comprisesmeans for rotating said shaft.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2wherein said agitating means comprises stirring elements mounted on saidshaft for rotation therewith.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 andfurther comprising means for recycling at least a portion of thewithdrawn gases to said inlet chamber for additional treatment. 5.Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for introducing theexhaust gases into said inlet chamber includes a nonreturn valve toprevent gases from returning to the inlet means after entering the inletchamber.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said purificationchamber includes means for withdrawing said liquid bath from saidpurification chamber after substantial saturation thereof, and forintroducing a fresh bath into said purification chamber.
 7. A method forremoving unwanted components from exhaust gases comprising introducingsaid exhaust gases into an inlet chamber, passing said exhaust gasesdownwardly through a confined zone within said inlet chamber to apurification chamber, agitating an absorber liquid within saidpurification chamber and continuously passing the exhaust gasesdownwardly through said confined zone and thence through the agitatedabsorber liquid for violent intermixing therewith and removing purifiedgases after intermixing with said liquid, said absorber liquid beingformed of at least one liquid for mechanical entrainment of solidimpurities and for absorption of vaporous impurities.